I'm Kaitlynn, a junior in high school, and this summer I got the chance to go on my second missionary trip to El Salvador, thanks to the anonymous person who made that dream of returning a reality. I didn't just go because it was for service hours or because I might have been expected to go, I did it because I love helping others, even though they can't pay me back. It's definitely something that you have to do for yourself and you can't try to experience it through words. You have to be there in the moment, with an open heart.
I'm Korine, also a junior in high school, and this was my first trip to El Salvador. I would say that hearing about the trip last summer from my sister was very different from what I experienced there. It's just different when you are actually there and not at home hearing about it. The fact that I got the chance to help others who live 3,000 miles away is amazing. I made a lot of friends whom I consider family. This trip has made me realize how much I should appreciate things in my life. It also showed me that there are people in the world who have very little but will give it to you just to keep you comfortable. We also got the chance to celebrate our 17th birthday with our family and friends, a memory that we will never forget. Again thank you to the generous and kind person who made that possible. It meant a lot to us.